For those wanting to utilise their underfloor heating system fully, there is one kind of floor screed that easily trumps all other types of floor screeding solutions: liquid screeding. Liquid screeding has indeed been around for a while, but it is only in recent years that more and more business and property owners have seen its benefits. Liquid screeding, for one, is easier to install compared to other screeds, and it is also more environmentally-friendly as it is 100% recyclable. Of course, you may already know that liquid floor screeding allows you to have a more efficient underfloor heating system, and this is perhaps the main reason why liquid floor screeding has become the best screeding solution for more consumers. But if you have decided to opt for liquid floor screeding, there are some things you can do to prepare the flooring of your property as well. Here, then, is how you can properly prepare to floor for the installation of liquid floor screeding.
Preparing Your Flooring: Your Essential Guide
First, you should make it a point to remove all debris from the sub-flooring. Next, place the insulation and make sure there are two layers. Use dried sand so you can fill the spaces or voids around the pipes. Ensure that the voids are filled on an even level before installing the insulation board’s second layer. Next, lay down a thick membrane (around 1000 gauge) underneath the pipework (place it on top of the insulation board) to avoid the leakage of the liquid screed before it sets. Then install a strip around the corners and edges of the wall and make sure this is securely attached. If there is shuttering on steps or doors, make sure they are completely sealed as well with the use of mastic or expanding foam so you can avoid leakage once the screed is laid and before it sets. You will also need to seal holes or pipes through walls before placing the liquid screed.
When you are planning to install liquid screed with your property’s underfloor heating system, make sure that the heating system is already filled with water before laying the liquid screed. This will prevent the pipework from floating to the screed’s surface. The minimum amount of cover you should allow above the pipes should be around 30 millimetres, so the thickness of the screed should be around 50 millimetres (especially if you are making use of a UFH pipe measuring 16 millimetres).
What You Should Always Remember
It is also worth noting that the unevenness of flooring can cause differences in the level of the flooring and the amount of screed you need, so make sure to measure the area or room as accurately as you can. You will also have to consider various essential features such as minimum cover and thicknesses, door openings, and other differentials in the height of the flooring between each area or room.
While installing or applying liquid screed can be a DIY process, if you are unsure of the procedure or method or want to have the proper peace of mind with the entire installation process, you can always rely on floor screeding contractors who can give you a quick service combined with the most accurate skills and knowledge.
